BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF FREDERICK WOHLER. 547 



appear to have cast a shadow upon their friendship, and the large 

 accumulation of letters in Wohfer's hands testifies to the tribute of 

 respect and affection which Liebig showed toward one who could 

 have been a most dangerous rival. 



Wohler's career took an unexpected turn during the winter of 

 1824-'25. The Gewerbeschule was at that time founded in Berlin. It 

 consisted of but one class in the beginning, to which Henry Rose gave 

 instruction in chemistry. Rose, Mitscherlich, and especially Leopold 

 von Buch, recommended Wohler for the chair of chemistry in the 

 newly founded institution. To the two former he had been introduced 

 by Berzelius, while Leopold von Buch had previously made his ac- 

 quaintance while he was a student at the University of Marburg. 

 The young student had made such an impression on Von Buch that 

 he became his devoted friend and patron. Wohler had found a new 

 variety of harmotome (Phillipsite) in a basalt-quarry near Marburg, 

 and, as Von Buch had in the last century published a notice of this 

 mineral, the new variety greatly interested him, and he was also 

 pleased to find a young man so well versed in mineralogy. When the 

 question of the new position in Berlin was pending, Von Buch wrote 

 a long and characteristic letter to Wohler in which, with sprightly 

 humor, he described the society and the chief personages of Berlin of 

 that day, and endeavored to persuade the young chemist to select the 

 Prussian capital, in preference to Heidelberg, as a place of residence. 

 Wohler did not long hesitate, and in March, 1825, removed to Berlin, 

 where he was at once installed, under Director Kloeden, as teacher of 

 chemistry and mineralogy. At first he only took the position on trial 

 for a year, on a salary of three hundred dollars and a modest apart- 

 ment. By degrees the institution grew in importance, and Wohler's 

 salary was very much increased, and a fine dwelling was assigned to 

 him ; and in 1828, by royal decree, he was raised to the rank of pro- 

 fessor. It was at about this time that he was married to his first wife 

 who was the daughter of a wealthy banker of Cassel. The young 

 professor now entered upon a prosperous career. His residence at the 

 capital of Prussia, the great resources which were at his command, the 

 constant scientific intercourse with the favorite pupils of Berzelius, 

 Mitscherlich, Henry Rose, Gustavus Rose, and particularly with his 

 intimate friend Magnus, and the opportunity of meeting with other 

 shining lights of the day, could not fail to exert an inspiring and in- 

 structive influence. 



WQhler always considered it peculiarly fortunate that he was here 

 able to make the personal acquaintance of Alexander von Humboldt, and 

 to have the privilege of listening to his intellectual conversations, and 

 of attending his celebrated lectures on Cosmos. In the year 1828 Von 

 Humboldt was made President of the German Association of Natural- 

 ists, and opened the session with a most finished and brilliant discourse, 

 and, though crowded with work, he still found time during the meeting 



